State district court judges hear many types of cases, both civil and criminal. Their civil cases include private injury lawsuits, contracts, real estate, family law, and some mental health and election-related issues. The criminal cases they hear include felony and more serious misdemeanor matters.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, NMSU 1993 (Philosophy Major/Law and Society Supplimentary Major) Juris Doctor, UNM 1996
Occupation
Judge
Filing County
Bernalillo
I was deemed qualified by the bipartisan judicial nominating commission, appointed by the Governor, and have served as your judge for over two years. I have 30 years of legal experience, practicing in the Children’s Court for 25 years. My experience includes 18 years in the District Attorney’s Office and a decade at the Public Defender’s Office. With extensive experience in juvenile law, I have trained attorneys, law enforcement, schools, and community organizations on juvenile legal matters.
My qualifying legal experience is bolstered by service on national and local juvenile justice boards. I have extensive training in adolescent brain development, trauma-informed practices, mental health, substance use, domestic violence, violence reduction, and best practices within the system. I am committed to ensuring due process and to the fair, unbiased application of the law. I have already served in this role for over two years.
I have worked on court improvement for a decade. Drawing on 30 years of experience, I implemented internal procedures in my courtroom by identifying bottlenecks, using differentiated case management, and not accepting “it’s always been like this” as a reason to maintain the status quo. My goal is to ensure our court is efficient, accessible, and equitable. My goal is to efficiently make decisions and to help our children find a path out of the system.
To keep the judiciary independent, judges should reach the bench through merit‑based appointments, chosen for legal expertise rather than political ties. When running for a judicial seat, public financing should be mandatory to reduce concerns about undue influence. Judges should also be encouraged to recuse when appropriate to protect the integrity of the courts. I am the only candidate in this race to utilize public financing.
I am a 14th generation New Mexican, a mother of two, and I am both an Aggie (BA) AND a Lobo (JD). As a child of educators, I saw how change can be made one child at a time; this is the approach I take as a Judge. It took 28 years and my children being grown to feel I had the foundation and focus to do this important work. I believe in rehabilitation while, in some instances, recognizing its limitations. This work is my passion, and it is an honor to serve you as your Children’s Court Judge.
